âIt seems quite a few people know me.â
Chen Changsheng wasnât particularly surprised, but the situation felt murky and confusing, which was a bit unsettling.
âCanât just say things randomly!â
Zhao Yuqing said, âI might know you, but few who know you end up well.â
âHmm?â
Chen Changsheng narrowed his eyes and asked, âWhat do you mean, not well?â
Zhao Yuqing scoffed lightly. âDied horribly? Wasted away waiting? Waited themselves to death? Waiting thousands of years wasnât enough for you. So many people remembered you, yet you alone lived peacefully and content. Itâs you who truly deserves to die.â
âAhemâŠâ
Chen Changsheng coughed. âChen doesnât recall such things.â
Zhao Yuqing sneered mockingly. âWhy would you remember? The blink of an eye and you forget everything. Youâre the most human and yet the most heartless. Now, all those who remembered you waited themselves to death. Are you satisfied?â
Chen Changsheng held his wine cup. He glanced at Zhao Yuqing, trying to search through fragmented memories, but no trace of any clues surfaced.
âReally?â Chen Changsheng asked.
Zhao Yuqing gave him a dirty look and didnât answer. Instead, he said, âIf it werenât you sitting in front of me, my temper wouldâve taken ten lives already.â
Chen Changsheng parted his lips. âI was wondering if the rumors spread outside were perhaps false. Now it seems they are true.â
âYou mean about Qinle Palace and the Fiery Black Isle?â
âMm.â
âNeed to correct you thereâit wasnât a rumor.â
Zhao Yuqing said, âI really did slash the head of Qinle Palace to death. That old witch played her lute all day, thinking it sounded wonderful⊠couldnât slay anyone else.â
Chen Changsheng smiled helplessly. âYou really are like a lowlife scoundrel.â
âYou miss the point. That label fits common thugs. On me, Zhao Yuqing? Itâs called Demon Sovereign.â
âProud of that?â
âWhy wouldnât I be?â
Zhao Yuqing said, âFor thousands of years, no one could bear that title. Only I, Zhao Yuqing, can hold it firm.â
Chen Changshengâs lips twitched involuntarily. He sighed. âIâm starting to doubt if I really ever knew you before.â
âDidnât I say it already? I do not know you. And better if we never do in the future.â
Zhao Yuqing took a sip of wine, looking perfectly at ease.
Chen Changsheng countered, âSo resistant? Why did you bother coming to find me, then?â
âLast time!â
Zhao Yuqing held up a finger. âThis is the final time. After this, I, Zhao Yuqing, will absolutely never see you again.â
Chen Changsheng couldnât help muttering silently. He blinked and asked, âDid you owe me some kind of debt?â
Zhao Yuqing shot him a cold glare, silent.
Chen Changsheng shook his head with a sigh. âIâve forgotten many things. Care to tell me? Might help jog my memory.â
âYou say one more word and I will truly cut you down.â
ââŠâ
Chen Changsheng smacked his lips lightly and didnât ask further.
It seemed this topic couldnât be pursued.
He could distinctly feel Zhao Yuqing restraining himself. One more word, and the man might actually slam the table and leap up.
Chen Changsheng felt troubled.
He was so close to an answer, yet blocked at this final step.
âBoom~!!â
Thunder roared, and it drew nearer and nearer.
Lightning flashed across the dark sky like a sprawling spiderweb, bringing heavy rain and gales that swept through the small town.
The river water churned endlessly. Brave souls peered out through windows, watching as the river visibly rose at eye-wrenching speed.
âGhosts! Truly ghosts!â
âThe waterâs rising!!â
In moments, Autumn Moon Market filled with shouts as waters surged. Households near the riverbanks rushed out into the pouring rain, seeking refuge elsewhere or directly fleeing to the Yamen (Government Office).
Inside the West Bridge Tavern,
The young waiter, Xiaoâer, grew anxious too. With the thunder, he shivered despite himself.
âManager, should⊠should we leave?â Xiaoâer asked.
The Manager, Xiaoliu, remained utterly calm. âYou can go if youâre afraid.â
Seeing the Managerâs tone, Xiaoâer gulped, mustering the courage to stay.
The Manager glanced at him. âWith Mr. Chen here, no flood could rise high enough to reach us.â
âI-Is that soâŠâ
Inside, Xiaoâer was crying out for his parents. He thought, Even if this gentleman is formidable, can he truly hold back floodwaters?
Outside, Zhao Yuqing stood and walked to the door.
After opening it, he lifted his head to gaze at the gloomy sky.
âItâs coming.â
Zhao Yuqing lowered his head, looking at the sword dangling beneath the West Bridge. He muttered, âThinking about it, I really am a bit reluctant.â
âReluctant?â Chen Changsheng came alongside him. âTalking about that sword hanging under the bridge?â
âMm.â
Zhao Yuqing nodded. âProbably after this, that sword might no longer belong to me.â
Chen Changshengâs gaze fixed on the sword. He frowned. âSo the focus is on that sword?â
Zhao Yuqing didnât answer, merely watching in silence.
Chen Changsheng suddenly realized. âYou want to sacrifice the Flood Dragon for the sword!!â
Zhao Yuqing turned to look at him. âI always said, your intuition is frighteningly sharp.â
Chen Changsheng froze.
He truly never imagined Zhao Yuqing not only dared to think such a thing, but actually dared to go through with it.
âDo you lack for such a sword?â Chen Changsheng asked, frowning.
In his view, Zhao Yuqing shouldnât be short of a sword. Going through such elaborate planning, waiting hundreds of years, just to empower a blade seemed hardly worth it.
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âYou think I lack it?â Zhao Yuqing shot back.
Chen Changsheng shook his head. âSince thatâs so, why do this?â
âI want to.â Zhao Yuqing said.
Just as Chen Changsheng was about to speak, another tremor came.
âRumbleâŠâ
The river churned even more violently, bubbling like boiling water. Surging tides breached its banks, flooding the streets and rapidly rising to thigh height.
Chen Changsheng furrowed his brow and raised two fingers.
âHear my command: Waters stop beneath the bridge! Avoid the Market, flee!â
Under this Divine Decree, the might of Heaven and Earth Daoist Arts infused the waters. The surging river instantly halted its advance. The invading flood waters slowly retreated.
Zhao Yuqing watched this scene. âYou really are a softie.â
Upon hearing this, Chen Changsheng frowned, slightly displeased.
He asked, âDidnât you stay in Autumn Moon Market for some time? Shouldnât it count as half your home? Youâd just watch it flood?â
Zhao Yuqing paused internally. âMortal concerns are already scattered dust from the past.â
Chen Changsheng paused at these words.
A moment later, he spoke calmly, âYouâre right. Chen indeed does not know you.â